Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Tom Bishop
Not Peer Reviewed

Pericles, Prince of Tyre (Modern)

Enter [Pander, Bawd, and Bolt.]
Pander
Bolt.
Sir?
1525Pander
Search the market narrowly. Metalin is full of gallants. We lost too much money this mart by being too wenchless.
We were never so much out of creatures! We have but poor three, and they can do no more then they 1530can do, and they with continual action are even as good as rotten.
Pander
Therefore let's have fresh ones whate'er we pay for them. If there be not a conscience to be used in every trade, we shall never prosper.
Thou sayst true. 'Tis not our bringing up of poor bastards -- as I think, I have brought up some eleven --
Ay, to eleven, and brought them down again. But shall I search the market?
What else, man? The stuff we have, a strong 1540wind will blow it to pieces, they are so pitifully sodden.
Pander
Thou sayst true. There's two unwholesome, a'conscience. The poor Transylvanian is dead that lay with the little baggage.
Ay, she quickly pooped him! She made him roast-1545meat for worms. But I'll go search the market.
Exit.
Pander
Three or four thousand chequins were as pretty a proportion to live quietly, and so give over.
Why, to give over I pray you? Is it a shame to 1550get when we are old?
Pander
Oh, our credit comes not in like the commodity, nor the commodity wages not with the danger. Therefore if in our youths we could pick up some pretty estate, t'were not amiss to keep our door hatched. Besides 1555the sore terms we stand upon with the gods will be strong with us for giving o'er.
Come, other sorts offend as well as we.
Pander
As well as we? Ay, and better too! We offend worse. Neither is our profession any trade; it's no calling. 1560But here comes Bolt.
Enter Bolt with the Pirates and Marina.
[To Marina] Come your ways! [To Pirates] My masters, you say she's a virgin?
Pirate
Oh, sir, we doubt it not.
[To Bawd] Master, I have gone through for this piece you see. If you like her, so; if not, I have lost my earnest.
Bolt, has she any qualities?
She has a good face, speaks well, and has excellent good clothes. There's no farther necessity of qua1570lities can make her be refused.
What's her price, Bolt?
I cannot be bated one doit of a thousand pieces.
Pander
Well, follow me, my masters. You shall have your money presently. Wife, take her in; instruct her what she has 1575to do, that she may not be raw in her entertainment.
[Exeunt Pander and Pirates.]
Bolt, take you the marks of her: the color of her hair, complexion, height, her age, with warrant of her virginity, and cry "He that will give most shall have her first." Such a maidenhead were no cheap thing, if men were as 1580they have been. Get this done as I command you.
Performance shall follow.
Exit.
Marina
Alack that Leonine was so slack, so slow --
He should have struck, not spoke; or that these pirates,
Not enough barbarous, had not o'erboard thrown me,
For to seek my 1585mother.
Why lament you, pretty one?
Marina
That I am pretty.
Come, the gods have done their part in you.
Marina
I accuse them not.
You are light into my hands, where you are like to live.
Marina
The more my fault,
To scape his hands, where I was like to die.
Ay, and you shall live in pleasure.
1595Marina
No.
Yes indeed shall you, and taste gentlemen of all fashions. You shall fare well; you shall have the difference of all complexions. What, do you stop your ears?
Marina
Are you a woman?
What would you have me be, an I be not a woman?
Marina
An honest woman, or not a woman.
Marry, whip the gosling!, I think I shall have something to do with you. Come, you're a young foolish 1605sapling, and must be bowed as I would have you.
Marina
The gods defend me!
If it please the gods to defend you by men, then men must comfort you, men must feed you, men stir you up.
[Enter Bolt.]
Bolt's returned. [To Bolt.] Now sir, hast thou cried her through 1610the market?
I have cried her almost to the number of her hairs. I have drawn her picture with my voice.
And I prithee tell me: how dost thou find the inclination of the people, especially of the younger sort?
Faith, they listened to me as they would have harkened to their father's testament. There was a Spaniard's mouth watered, and he went to bed to her very description.
We shall have him here tomorrow with his best ruff on.
Tonight, tonight! But mistress, do you know the French knight that cowers i'the hams?
Who, Monsieur Verollus?
Ay, he. He offered to cut a caper at the proclamation, but he made a groan at it, and swore he would see her 1625tomorrow.
Well, well, as for him, he brought his disease hither; here he does but repair it. I know he will come in our shadow, to scatter his crowns of the sun.
[Indicating Marina] Well, if we had of every nation a traveler, we 1630should lodge them with this sign.
[To Marina] Pray you, come hither awhile. You have fortunes coming upon you. Mark me: you must seem to do that fearfully which you commit willingly; despise profit where you have most gain. To weep 1635that you live as ye do makes pity in your lovers; seldom but that pity begets you a good opinion, and that
opinion a mere profit.
Marina
I understand you not.
Oh, take her home, mistress, take her home. These 1640blushes of hers must be quenched with some present practice.
[Bawd]
Thou sayest true i'faith, so they must. For your
bride goes to that with shame which is her way to go with warrant.
Faith, some do, and some do not. But mistress, if I have bargained for the joint --
Thou mayst cut a morsel off the spit.
I may so?
Who should deny it?1650[To Marina] Come, young one. I like the manner of your garments well.
Ay, by my faith, they shall not be changed yet.
[Giving Bolt money.] Bolt, spend thou that in the town. Report what a sojourner we have. You'll lose nothing by custom. 1655When Nature framed this piece, she meant thee a good turn. Therefore say what a paragon she is, and thou hast the harvest out of thine own report.
I warrant you, mistress, thunder shall not so awake the beds of eels as my giving out her beauty stirs 1660up the lewdly inclined. I'll bring home some tonight.
[Exit Bolt.]
[To Marina] Come your ways, follow me.
Marina
If fires be hot, knives sharp, or waters deep,
Untried I still my virgin knot will keep.
Diana aid my purpose.
What have we to do with Diana? Pray you, will you go with us?
Exeunt.